Once in a great while with kids I have had to choose Applebees/Chillis/TGIF. I am sure they speed things up in some way but I have to believe they actually but steak, burger, chicken breast on a grill.

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Elections have consequences.

i mean, it would be pretty funny if they were microwaving burgers

I don't mind Friday's. Their food is generally tasty and they have a good beer selection.

Applebee's (when it was still around here) was the drizzling shits. Chili's is just awful.

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I like the fajitas at Chili's plus they have those video game tablets at the tables to keep the little brats occupied. Lot's of restaurant snobs here, #SAD!

I would agree Friday's is the best of that low tier.

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Elections have consequences.

Chili's fajitas used to be good. They changed something a few years back, and now they are awful.

If I want chain restaurant fajitas, I'll slum it at On the Border.

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i'll endless app fridays as it has one of the best locations right on the mississippi. if it wasn't we'd never go. otherwise, most of those places are marginal for a place that you spend 10-15 bucks a meal plus tip.

but alas we are often asked out to eat with people we are not super familiar with due to our role at our church and people are always wanting to eat at these shitholes. i always just get a burger. its all i ever get at places that suck. the best part is when some of these people we go out with become friends, they eventually learn about that and are like, hey you got a burger at our favorite restaurant when we first met. and i'm like you just got jammed!

Best argument I've heard yet for being an atheist.

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Reality is your friend, not your enemy. -- Seacrest

hnd, have you ever ridden the Channel Cat?

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Come again ?

Boat that runs between Iowa and Illinois. Basically a river cab.

We should have a city vs. country football game. TACKLE. I'd be honorary country. hnd, DS, leash, me, Dr. Ken, Peoria Matt....who's gonna beat that team?

Suburb team of me, WZ, IMU, HG, DB, denis, and a retard

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Fare you well, fare you well
I love you more than words can tell
Listen to the river sing sweet songs
To rock my soul

More appropriately referred to as a slaughter.

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The local orthopedic surgeon wins.

Props for using The Region.

That is the way Schoops does it and they are the biggest local burger chain out here. It's a damn good burger.

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yeah, that's actually true

So, because of this thread, we went to TGI Friday's last night. I had to test Caller Bob's theory of chain restaurant steak.

I ordered their ribeye and (against my better judgment), ordered it medium rare.

They brought out a piece of meat that looked like a deformed sausage patty and asked me to cut into it to make sure it was done properly. I cut into it, and it was completely black... very well done. So I told them it wasn't done properly. They took it back, and about ten minutes later, brought me another one that looked exactly the same. I cut into it again, and it was the exact same. I didn't feel like dealing with it, so I just told them it was fine and drenched it in steak sauce. It was awful.

I love ya' Bob, but I have no idea how you could actually eat steak at these places on a regular basis.

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Maybe their microwave is broken

Leash...for the record I never vouched for TGI Friday's steak. It was Applebees and Ruby Tuesday's. Applebees is pretty mediocre, Ruby Tuesdays was delicious, last time I had it which was along time ago. I assume no liability here.

Come to think of it, Friday's was always my least favorite of those chains. I have no idea why Ruby Tuesday has been getting killed in this market with such a superior product. Maybe Denis can provide some insight.

Fridays, Ruby Tuesdays, Applebee's...they have their place. As leash (I think?) mentioned, its an OK place to go with the kids and they have drinks too. Plus, its pretty tough to screw up chicken tenders or a burger and fries.

Chili's, on the other hand, sucks. My wife won a $25 giftcard there for her work and she was kinda pissed about it because that place sucks. I suggested we just sit at the bar and have a couple drinks.

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Frank, slightly off topic, but you are around Orland right? Is the Golf Galaxy there worth going to? I was digging through my garage and found a $50+ gift card from that place, so I want to get into a location. Seems like the PGA store is just about to wipe them out as they have closed a ton of Illinois locations.

I didnt kill my daughter, it was my son!


Same exact thing. Literally.

Also, I would never let a lower tier restaurant do a Ribeye. Stick to Sirloin, New York or Filet. I'm not a huge fan of Rib-eye's myself, I understand the fat adds flavor but I prefer leaner cuts rare, which gives plenty of flavor. Of course some of those bone in Ribeyes at the premium steakhouses are the exception to the rule.

I really wish Leash would have called me to discuss before he went out...

There is, Bob, off of LaGrange and 159th (I think). I've only been in the place once. The card might be usable online.

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Flat iron is the only acceptable cut at Fridays.

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You guys ever get the Surf and Turf at 7-11?

It depends on where you live.

If you live in the Chicago suburbs, there is really no reason to be a regular at any of those big chain places with many similarly priced better options available. If those are your best options then you should move. No offense to Hank Scorpio, Peoria Matt, and RFDC intended.

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You do not talk to me like that! I work too hard to deal with this stuff! I work too hard! I'm an important member of the CSFMB! I drive a Dodge Stratus!

I'll be honest, I really hate going to all those chains with the family now these days. I liked them when I was young/dating/broke as a cheap meal under $30...but now you go with the kids and they decide to act like fucking retards, hardly eat any food and you are still stuck with a $50-$60 dollar bill...I'd rather just go out with the wife now and then to a Morton's or Joe's ourselves, and go all out for $150-200.